Circuit for protecting a switching power source

Abstract: A protective circuit is used in conjunction with a switching power source (110) for protecting the latter from overload and from short circuits. The circuit detects whether the current at the primary winding current of a switching power source transformer (114), the load current of the switching power source, or both exceed a predetermined reference voltage. If so, supply of power to the switching power source (110) is interrupted for a predetermined period of time, thereby bringing the switching power source into inoperable condition for the duration of the predetermined period of time.

Description: The present invention relates to a circuit for protecting a switching power source from an overload condition or a short circuit condition by detecting a load current of the switching power source or a current flowing in the primary winding of a transformer included in the switching power source. Recently, switching power sources have been commonly brought into use because they are a highly efficient means for providing a stable power supply. There are many types of switching power sources. As described in "Transistor Technology Special No. 28", the switching power sources are classified as single type vs. push-pull types and as self-excited types vs. separate-excited types in terms of power transistor's circuit configuration. To attain stabilized control, PWM types, RCC types or the like are used. Generally, these circuits are designed to have protective characteristics for protecting the power transistor or the power FET coupled to the transformer from being damaged when a switching power source is overloaded or when the output of the circuit is short circuited. A protective circuit for protecting from the overload condition or the short circuit condition is described in Japanese Patent Publication JP-A-57 212 825, wherein with respect to a switching power source with a PWM feedback control, a current flowing in a power transistor or a power FET is interrupted using a bistable multivibrator when an overcurrent flows in the load for a predetermined period of time. In the protective circuit as described in the above publication, once an overcurrent is detected, the bistable multivibrator is set so that current does not flow in the power transistor or the power FET. Even after the overcurrent stops flowing, the protected component, that is, the power transistor or power FET will remain OFF until the protective circuit is manually re-set. Because there is no automatic re-set function, the protective circuit is very troublesome to use. In addition, an over current condition is not detected unless it continues for the predetermined period of time. Therefore, response is slow for detecting continuous short circuits. Also, the circuit has many components and is therefore complicated and expensive to produce. According to a first aspect of this invention a protective circuit adapted for a switching power source which includes switching means for switching an input voltage applied to said switching means, a transformer having a primary winding coupled to said switching means and a secondary winding, and rectifying means coupled to said secondary winding of said transformer, a load being connectable to said rectifying means, comprises: detecting means for detecting when at least one of the current flowing in said primary winding of said transformer and the current flowing in the load connected to said rectifying means exceeds a predetermined reference value; and, interrupting means for interrupting application of the input voltage to said switching means for a predetermined period of time after said detecting means detects that said predetermined reference value has been exceeded. Preferably the detecting means detects at least one of two occurrences, one being that a current flowing in said primary winding of said transformer exceeds a first predetermined reference value, and another being that a current flowing in the load connected to said rectifying means exceeds a second predetermined reference value. According to another aspect of this invention, use of a protective circuit according to the first aspect of the present invention in a stabilized voltage source circuit characterised in that said switching power source is a stabilized voltage source circuit which comprises: a switching power source including an oscillation circuit for producing a train of pulses, a power transistor having a base connected to said oscillation circuit, a collector, and an emitter, a transformer having a primary winding, and a secondary winding, the primary winding having one end connected to the collector of said power transistor and another end supplied with the input voltage, a rectifying circuit connected to the secondary winding of said transformer, said rectifying circuit rectifying the voltage developed across the secondary winding of said transformer and producing a rectified voltage and feedback means for feeding back the rectified voltage to the oscillation circuit. Preferably the current detecting means includes a resistor coupled to the primary winding of the transformer so that the primary winding current flows in the resistor, and differentiating means for differentiating a voltage developed across the resistor to detect an in rush current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer immediately after the switching means of the switching power source is rendered ON. The interrupting means preferably includes a switching device connected to the switching means of the switching power source, control means connected to the switching device for controlling ON - OFF switchings of the switching device, and time measuring means connected to the control means for measuring the predetermined period of time upon the detecting means detecting at least one of the two occurrences. The control means renders the switching device OFF during the predetermined period of time measured by the time measuring means, whereby application of the input voltage to the switching means is interrupted for the predetermined period of time. According to the present invention, in an overload or short circuit situation when the primary winding current or the load current exceeds the above described reference values, supply of power to the switching power supply is temporarily interrupted. After expiration of the predetermined period of time, if the primary winding current or the load current does not exceed the above described reference values, power is supplied to the switching circuit. That is, the circuit automatically reverts to an operable condition. If the above described reference values are exceeded, supply of power to the switching power source is again temporarily interrupted. When either the primary winding current or the load current continues to exceed the above described values, the operations of detecting the primary winding current and the load current and interrupting the supply of power to the switching power source are repeatedly carried out at a frequency with a predetermined period of time. Therefore, a short frequency chattering does not occur in the circuit of the present invention. Particular embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit for protecting against overloads and short circuits according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a circuit diagram of the block diagram shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating operation of the circuit according to the first embodiment of the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing a circuit diagram according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 is a block diagram showing the arrangement of a protective circuit for a switching power source of separate-excited and push-pull type. The switching power source is denoted by reference numeral 110 and includes an oscillation circuit 112, a transformer 114 and a rectifying circuit 116. As will be described in detail below, the oscillation circuit 112 includes a power transistor serving as a switching means for switching an input voltage V IN applied to the power transistor. The transformer 114 has a primary winding coupled to the power transistor and a secondary winding. The rectifying circuit 116 is coupled to the secondary winding of the transformer 116. A load is connectable to the output of the rectifying circuit 116. The input voltage V in supplied from the power source is subjected to switching by the power transistor included in the oscillation circuit 112. After the input voltage V in is boosted at the transformer 114, it is rectified at the rectifying circuit 116 and outputted as stabilized output V out . The output voltage V out is fed back to the oscillation circuit 112 and stabilized by well-known PWM control. The primary winding current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer 114 is detected by the primary winding current detector 132 and a translated voltage of the detected current is compared in a first comparator 136 with a first reference voltage V ref1 supplied from first reference voltage supply 134. If the translated voltage of the detected primary winding current is greater than the first reference voltage V ref1 , a first detection signal is outputted from the first comparator 136. The load current of the switching power source 110 is detected by a load current detector 142 and a translated voltage of the detected load current is compared in a second comparator 146 with a second reference voltage V ref2 supplied from second reference voltage supply 144. If the translated voltage of the load current is greater than the second reference voltage V ref2 , a second detection signal is outputted from the second comparator 146. An OR gate 154 is connected to the outputs of the first and second comparators 136 and 146 to receive the first and second detection signals. The OR gate 154 ORs the first and second detection signals. That is, if either the first detection signal or the second detection signal is applied to the OR gate 154, the OR gate 154 outputs a trigger pulse to a monostable multivibrator 152 connected to the output of the OR gate 154. The primary winding current detector 132, the load current detector 142, the first and second reference voltage supplies 134 and 144, and the first and second comparators 136 and 146 serve as detecting means for detecting at least one of two occurrences. One is that a current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer 114 exceeds the first reference value. Another is that a current flowing in the load connected to the rectifying circuit 116 exceeds the second reference value. When the monostable multivibrator 152 is triggered in response to the trigger pulse outputted from the OR gate 154, the monostable multivibrator 152 outputs a control pulse for a predetermined period of time to a control circuit 120 for controlling the supply of input voltage to the switching power source 110. Supply of input voltage through the control circuit 120 to the switching power source 110 is interrupted during the predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time elapses, the input voltage is again supplied to the switching power source 110. The primary winding current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer 114 is monitored by the primary winding current detector 132 and the load current is monitored by the load current detector 142. when a voltage corresponding to at least one of the primary winding current and the load current exceeds the reference voltages V ref1 or V ref2 , the input voltage V IN to the switching power source 110 is interrupted. The control circuit 120 is constructed from a transistor Tr120 serving as switching element which is controlled by a control pulse from the monostable multivibrator 152 in a manner to be described later. The control circuit 120, the monostable multivibrator 152, and OR gate 154 serve as interrupting means for interrupting application of the input voltage to the switching power source 110 for a predetermined period of time when the detecting means detects at least one of the two occurrences. Fig. 2 shows an example of the circuit arrangement of the protective circuit shown in block form in Fig. 1. Components in Fig. 2 that are the same as in Fig. 1 are indicated with the same numbering. A power transistor Tr1 is provided as the switch element of the switching power source 110. The current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer 114 is subjected to on-off switching by the power transistor Tr1 which is controlled by an oscillation circuit 112. A voltage doubler circuit for further boosting the voltage that is boosted by the transformer 114 is used in the rectifying circuit 116. The rectified output is applied via a resistor R2 to an output terminal to provide a stabilized output V out . The output voltage V out is fed back to the oscillation circuit 112 to attain stabilized output voltage. An emitter resistor RE of small resistance is connected to the emitter of the power transistor Tr1. When the power transistor Tr1 is turned ON in response to the rectangular wave from the oscillation circuit 112, a current flows in the primary winding of the transformer 114. A voltage in proportion to this primary winding current is developed across the emitter resistor RE. The primary winding current can be detected by differentiating the voltage developed across the emitter resistor RE. A series connection of capacitor C132 and resistor R132, which is denoted generally by reference numeral 132, is connected to the non-inverting input of the comparator 136 and performs the differentiation of the voltage across the emitter resistor RE. By providing the resistor R132 and the capacitor C132 with small values, a current starts flowing therein in timed relation to the rise of the voltage developed across the emitter resistor RE, and the capacitor C132 is thereby quickly charged, whereby a differentiated voltage of the voltage developed across the emitter resistor RE is applied to the non-inverting input of the comparator 136. Further, by using the emitter resistor Re with a small value, the capacitor C132 can also be discharged quickly. If the voltage at the non-inverting input of the comparator 136 is greater than the first reference voltage 134 applied to the inverting input of the comparator 136, that is, if the primary winding current of the transformer is larger than the predetermined reference value, the output of the comparator 136 becomes high level. If, on the other hand, the voltage at the non-inverting input of the comparator 136 is less than the first reference voltage 134, the output of the comparator 136 becomes low level. The comparator 136 and the reference voltage 134 are constructed by well-known methods, so detailed description thereof will be omitted herein. A small value resistor R142 and a smoothing capacitor C142, denoted generally by reference numeral 142, are connected to the output of the rectifying circuit 116. A voltage proportional to the load current is developed across the resistor R142 and the smoothing capacitor C142. The output of the comparator 146 becomes high level when the voltage at the non-inverting input of the comparator 146 is greater than the voltage at the inverting input of the comparator 146, that is, when the load current is greater than the predetermined reference value. Contrarily, the output of the comparator 146 will be at a low level when the voltage at its non-inverting input is less than the voltage at the inverting input. The structure of the comparator 146 and the reference voltage 144 are well known, so their description will be omitted herein. As shown in Fig. 2, the OR gate 154 is constructed from a diode logic and an invertor by a transistor. When the primary winding current and the load current are greater than the associated reference values, the OR gate 154 outputs a trigger pulse to the monostable multivibrator 152. The trigger pulse is negative logic. Therefore, OR gate 154 is more accurately termed a NOR gate. Circuitry for making the monostable multivibrator 152 is well known in the art. The pulse width output from the monostable multivibrator 152 can be optionally determined by the selection of the capacitor C12 and resistors R12 and R14. The output of the monostable multivibrator 152 is also negative logic, that is, when input level is low, the transistor Tr1 120 is turned OFF whereas when input level is high, the transistor Tr1 120 is turned ON. When the output of the switching power source 110 is short circuited or when the primary winding current or the load current exceed predetermined reference values, these are detected by the circuits 132 and 142, and a trigger pulse is outputted from the OR gate 154 to the monostable multivibrator 152. A low output from the monostable multivibrator 152 turns OFF the transistor Tr120. The current then stops flowing in the primary winding of the transformer 114 and output voltage from the switching power circuit 110 becomes unavailable. After a predetermined period of time corresponding to the output pulse width of the monostable multivibrator 152 is expired, the monostable multivibrator 152 outputs a high level signal to the base of the transistor Tr120 so that the transistor Tr120 is turned ON. As a result, the operation of the switching power source 110 resumes, and the current flows in the primary winding of the transformer 114 and a stabilized power output is obtained. The circuits 132 and 142 detect when a short circuit occurs or when the primary winding current and the load current are greater than predetermined reference values. The switching power source 110 again interrupts supply of power. If only the load current is detected and the primary winding current is not detected, the transistor Tr1 generates a large amount of heat when a large inrush current flows in the primary winding of the transformer 114. However, if the primary winding current is monitored together with the load current as in the present embodiment, an undue inrush current can be detected. By inhibiting the current from flowing in the primary winding of the transformer 114 for a predetermined period of time when the undue inrush current is detected, the average value of the current at the primary winding of the transformer 114 can be reduced so that the power transistor Tr1 will not be damaged by the heat generated. Fig. 3 shows how the non-inverting input of the comparator 136 (i.e., the differentiated value of the primary winding current), the output from the multivibrator 152, and the load current change with changes in the load. The upper level (a) indicates the load, wherein load increases with increasing height. Region I shows the situation when the load exceeds a rated value. In this case, the load current (see lower level (d)) and the differentiated value of the primary winding current (see second level (b)) increase in comparison with the case where the load is at the rated value. The switching power source 110 operates almost as normal as a stabilized power source until the primary winding current or the load current exceeds the threshold value. Region II shows the load increasing further. When the primary winding current or the load current exceeds a threshold value, the comparator 136 or 146 outputs at a high level signal, whereupon the OR gate 154 outputs the trigger pulse to the monostable multivibrator 152. The transistor Tr 120 is turned OFF for a predetermined period of time determined by the monostable multivibrator 152 and thus power supply to the switching power source 110 is interrupted. During the overloaded condition, the monostable multivibrator 152 reverts to its original condition, whereupon the transistor Tr 120 is again turned ON for a short period of time and the switching power source 110 operates. However, as shown in regions II through IV, due to large load continuously imposed, the primary winding current or the load current exceeds the threshold value. In this condition, the trigger pulse is outputted to the monostable multivibrator 152 upon detection of the primary winding current or the load current. The transistor Tr120 will again be turned OFF for the predetermined period of time. During overloaded or short circuited condition, the switching power source 110 operates for an extremely short period of time. As indicated in regions III and IV, when the load further increases and the output of the switching power source 110 is brought to short-circuited condition, the primary winding current will increase and the switching power source 110 will only operate for extremely short periods of time. Region V shows conditions when the load returns to the rated level. Because the primary winding current and the load current are lower than the respective threshold values, the transistor Tr120 is ON and thus the switching power source 110 operates. In this way, the circuit automatically returns to the operable condition following an inoperable condition continuing for the predetermined period of time when both the load current and the primary winding current return to the normal level. Further, as described, when an overload or a short circuit condition is continuing, the time period at which the switching power source 110 operates is extremely short so that damage from generation of heat is prevented. Thus, the switching power source 110 is protected by a circuit of a simple arrangement and automatically returned to the operable condition after a protective period of time. The average current at the primary winding during a short circuit of the output of the switching power source 110 can be set to 1/10 of the current flowing in the rated load by appropriately setting the pulse width of the monostable multivibrator 152 by selection of capacitor C12 and resistances R12 and R14. Fig. 4 shows another example of circuit arrangement wherein like components are provided with the same numbering as in Figs. 1 and 2. In the example shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the comparison results of two comparators 136 and 146 are ORed. In the arrangement shown in Fig. 2, the set values of the current at the primary winding and the load current are freely determined by appropriately determining the reference voltages 134 and 144. The circuit arrangement can be simplified by appropriately selecting the emitter resistance RE and the resistance R142 so that the reference voltages 134 and 144 can be set to the same value. To this end, in the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 4, by applying an added value of the detection results from the primary winding current detector 132 and the load current detector 142 to the non-inverting input of the comparator 136, a trigger pulse is outputted to the monostable multivibrator 152 depending on whether the current at the primary winding of the transformer or the load current has exceeded the respective reference values. In the circuit shown in Fig. 4, the resistor R132 and the capacitor C132 connected to the non-inverting input of the comparator Q154 are for differentiating the voltage developed at the emitter resistor RE as in Fig. 2. Further, the resistor R142 and the capacitor C142 are provided for detecting load current of the rectifying circuit 116. The detection output from the resistor R132, the capacitor C132, the resistance R142, and the capacitor C142 is applied to the non-inverting input of the comparator Q154. If the non-inverting input of the comparator Q154 is greater than the reference voltage V ref0 inputted to the inverting input of the comparator Q154, that is, if the current at the primary winding of the transformer 114 or the load current is greater than the predetermined reference value, the comparator Q154 outputs a high level signal. If not, the comparator Q154 outputs a low level signal. In this circuit, the reference value is set to a level that is 130% of the rated load. The transistor Tr120 is subjected to ON-OFF control in the same manner as described with reference to Fig. 2. Because the resistors R132 and R142 are provided with relatively small values, the capacitor promptly discharges. This circuit operates substantially the same as that shown in Fig. 2. Consequently, when load conditions are changed as shown in Fig. 3(a), the differentiated value of the primary winding current, the output from the multivibrator, and the load current also change as shown in Fig. 3. When the primary winding current become 130% or more than the current under the rated load, the transistor Tr120 is turned OFF as shown in regions II and on. If detection is carried out with respect only to the load current and no detection is carried out with respect to the primary winding current, then the power transistor Tr1 will be damaged when overloads or short circuits occur, because a large inrush current that exceeds the 130% of the rated value flows in the primary winding of the transformer 114. However, in the arrangement of Fig. 4, inrush currents that exceed 130% of the rated value can be detected by the series connection of the capacitor C132 and the resistor R132 so that damage of the power transistor Tr1 by the inrush currents can be prevented. If only the differentiated value of the primary winding current is detected and the load current is not detected, the following problem will arise. When a rated load is provided, an inrush current flows in the primary winding when the power supply is started up but afterward the current at the primary winding of the transformer 114 becomes a half or less the inrush current. Therefore, different reference values need to be set to monitor the start up current and the current flowing in stationary states of the power source. If the same reference value is used to monitor the two statuses, the current flowing during the stationary states is checked whether it exceed a value two times or greater than the stationary state voltage operating under the rated load. According to the circuit arrangement shown in Fig. 4, in a stationary state at the rated load, a current that depends on the load current flows in the resistor R142 and a corresponding voltage is developed thereacross. The voltage across the resistor R142 is 0 V when the power source is started up. By appropriately determining the constant of the circuit, the difference between the inrush current at the time the power starts under the rated load and the inrush current during an overload can be obtained and a reference value of 130% under the rated load can be set using an extremely simple structure for both the primary winding current of the transformer and for the load current. Further, when this reference value is exceeded, operations for protecting the switching power source 110 can be promptly performed. According to the present invention, at least one of the primary winding current of the transformer and the load current is detected. Operations to interrupt supply of power are repeated at a frequency with a predetermined period of time. After the predetermined period of time has been expired, if the current at the primary winding of the transformer or the load current does not exceed the reference value, the switching element is turned ON, thereby causing the circuit to return to the operable condition. If the circuit is in an overload or short circuit condition, the switching power source is protected from heat damage by interrupting supply of power to the switching power source, thereby protecting the switching power source.

Claims: A protective circuit adapted for a switching power source (110) which includes switching means (112) for switching an input voltage applied to said switching means, a transformer (114) having a primary winding coupled to said switching means (112) and a secondary winding, and rectifying means (116) coupled to said secondary winding of said transformer (114), a load being connectable to said rectifying means (116), said protective circuit comprising detecting means (132, 134) for detecting when at least one of the current flowing in said primary winding of said transformer (112) and the current flowing in the load connected to said rectifying means (116) exceeds a predetermined reference value; said protective circuit being characterised by comprising an interrupting means (120, 152) for interrupting application of the input voltage to said switching means (112) for a predetermined period of time after said detecting means detects that said predetermined reference value has been exceeded. A protective circuit according to claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a resistor (RE) coupled to said primary winding of said transformer (114) so that the primary winding current flows in said resistor (RE), and differentiating means (C132, R132) for differentiating a voltage developed across said resistor (RE) to detect an inrush current flowing in said primary winding of said transformer (114) immediately after said switching means (112) of said switching power source is turned ON. A protective circuit according to claim 1 or 2, wherein said interrupting means comprises a switching device (Tr120) connected to said switching means (112) of said switching power source, control means (152) connected to said switching device (Tr120) for controlling ON - OFF switchings of said switching device (120), and time measuring means (C12, R12, R14) connected to said control means for measuring the predetermined period of time upon means for measuring the predetermined period of time upon said detecting means detecting that said predetermined reference value has been exceeded, said control means rendering said switching device (Tr120) OFF during the predetermined period of time measured by said time measuring means (C12, R12, R14), whereby application of the input voltage to said switching means (112) is interrupted for the said predetermined period of time. A protective circuit according to claim 3, wherein said time measuring means comprises a monostable multivibrator (152) having a trigger terminal applied with the trigger signal. A protective circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detecting means detects at least one of two occurrences, one being that a current flowing in said primary winding of said transformer (114) exceeds a first predetermined reference value, and another being that a current flowing in the load connected to said rectifying means (116) exceeds a second predetermined reference value. A protective circuit according to claim 5, wherein said detecting means comprises first current detecting means (132) for detecting the current flowing in said primary winding of said transformer (114) and outputting a primary winding current indicative of the current detected by said first current detecting means, a second current detecting means (142) for detecting the current flowing in the load connected to said rectifying means (116) and outputting a load current indicative of the current detected by said second current detecting means, and comparison means (136, 146) for comparing the primary winding current with the first reference value (134) and for comparing the load current with the second reference value (144), said comparison means (136, 146) outputting a trigger signal when comparison results indicate that at least one of the primary winding current exceeds the first reference value or the load current exceeds the second reference value, and wherein said interrupting means interrupts application of the input voltage to said switching means in response to the trigger signal. A protective circuit according to claim 6, wherein said comparison means comprises first comparison means (136) for comparing the primary winding current with the first reference value and providing a first comparison result, second comparison means (146) for comparing the load current with the second reference value and providing a second comparison result, and an OR gate (154) having a first input connected to said first comparison means (136) to receive the first comparison result and a second input connected to said second comparison means (146) to receive the second comparison result, said OR gate (154) outputting an ORed signal to the first comparison result and the second comparison result as the trigger signal. A protective circuit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the detecting means (132, 142) detects both the current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer (114) and the current flowing in the load connected to the rectifier (116) and triggers interruption of the application of the input voltage to the switching means when at least one of the current flowing in the primary winding of the transformer (114) and the current flowing in the load exceeds the predetermined reference value. Use of a protective circuit according to any of the preceding claims in a stabilized voltage source circuit characterised in that said switching power source is a stabilized voltage source circuit which comprises: a switching power source including an oscillation circuit (112) for producing a train of pulses, a power transistor (Trl) having a base connected to said oscillation circuit (112), a collector, and an emitter, a transformer (114) having a primary winding, and a secondary winding, the primary winding having one end connected to the collector of said power transistor (Tr1) and another end supplied with the input voltage, a rectifying circuit (116) connected to the secondary winding of said transformer (114), said rectifying circuit rectifying the voltage developed across the secondary winding of said transformer (114) and producing a rectified voltage and feedback means for feeding back the rectified voltage to the oscillation circuit.

Inventors: KOSUGI MITSUO, KOSUGI, MITSUO
Applicants: HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS KK, HAMAMATSU PHOTONICS K.K.
Application year: 1994
Main classification: H03K17
IPC codes: H02M3, H03K17, H02H7, H02M1